Baltimore to expand crime camera program

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake recently announced that the city will be expanding its CitiWatch surveillance camera network with the help of federal and state grants.

The addition of 12 new cameras along Pennsylvania Avenue will bring the total numbers of cameras in the network to 538. Sixty new cameras have been added to the network during the mayor’s first 18 months in office.

"Our CitiWatch program has been instrumental in supporting the work of the men and women of the Baltimore Police Department to reduce violent crime. The cameras are a force-multiplier that enable us to do more to protect the citizens of Baltimore," Rawlings-Blake said in a statement. "I want to thank our state, federal and local partners for their support of this vital crime prevention tool."

In 2010, the CitiWatch camera program assisted in over 1,200 arrests, 125 of which were for violent crimes such as robberies, assaults and illegal gun possession.